21 October 2022
Juventus fired a four-goal salvo to see off Empoli at the Allianz Stadium to back up their derby victory a weeek ago. The Friday night bonanza was started off by Moise Kean, with the only goal of the first half.
Adrien Rabiot produced another double after Weston McKennie had added the second 10 minutes after the break as Juve powered to an important victory in terms of morale.
MOISE OFF THE MARK
With confidence boosted after being backed by the boss with another start, Moise Kean looked dangerous from kick off. The first chance of the match fell to the striker who picked up a poor pass from the visitors and head down set off for goal, but flashed his shot wide.
Two minutes later Kean scored the game’s opening goal.
A powerful run from Adrien Rabiot saw the midfielder find Filip Kostić. His early cross was pounced on by Kean, who stabbed home from close range.
Kean had a great chance for a second on 31 minutes. This time Weston McKennie floated in an inviting cross, and Kean, perfectly positioned between the two central defenders, turned his header narrowly passed the post.
McKennie had a chance himself four minutes later, but drove his shot into Guglielmo Vicario from close range - just as Mattia Destro had done two minutes before, forcing Wojciech Szczęsny into his only serious save of the first half.
WES ADDS THE SECOND
McKennie was not in the mood to let another chance go to waste, so when Juan Cuadrado picked him out from a corner, the Texan bulleted his header into the net. 10 minutes into the second half, the Bianconeri had the second goal, and were anything but finished as an attacking force.
In fact, Kean thought he had netted his double when he ran onto a Kostić cross to place a header into the far corner. However, the assistant's flag was raised and after consulting VAR, the referee disallowed the effort.
But if Moise was to be denied a double, nothing would stop Adrien Rabiot from getting his second this season.
ADRIEN WRAPS IT UP
Two goals in 10 minutes in the closing phase of the game put extra shine on the scoreline and reflected Juve's dominant second half.
On 83', another corner from Cuadrado was met by Rabiot. His header appeared to have been parried on the line by Vicario but the referee, thanks to the goalline technology, indicated the midfielder's effort had completely crossed the line.
Before Rabiot added his second with a simple tap in on 94', Juve carved open the Empoli defence time after time. Arek Milik twice with headers almost found the net, his first went wide, his second was well saved by Vicario, who somehow also kept out Fabio Miretti, denying the teenager his first top-flight goal.
In the end it was left up to Rabiot to score back-to-back doubles at the Allianz Stadium after Danilo set him up inside the six-yard area.
Four goals and three points on the back of a confident performance.
JUVENTUS 4-0 EMPOLI (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: 8’ Kean (J), 56′ McKennie (J), 83′ & 90’+4 Rabiot (J).
JUVENTUS: Szczesny; Rugani (79′ Alex Sandro), Bonucci, Danilo; Cuadrado, McKennie (68′ Paredes), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (84′ Iling-Junior); Vlahovic (68′ Milik), Kean (79′ Miretti). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Gatti, Fagioli, Soulé. Coach: Allegri.
EMPOLI: Vicario; Stojanovic, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Haas (88′ Degli Innocenti), Marin, Bandinelli (74′ Henderson); Pjaca (61′ Bajrami); Satriano (61′ Baldanzi), Destro (74′ Lammers). Subs not used: Ujkani, Seghetti, Cacace, Walukievicz, Ekong, Fazzini, Ebuehi, Cambiaghi, Guarino. Coach: Zanetti.
Referee: Fabbri.
BOOKINGS: 36’ Cuadrado (J), 58’ Rabiot (J), 58′ Satriano (E), 69′ Haas (E).
